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Uneven play extends Sharks’ losing streak

The Malibu High School baseball team floundered in two straight games against the St. Bonaventure Seraphs last week, extending their losing streak to five games.

Malibu’s most recent loss came on Friday, April 17, where it committed a comedy of errors that led to several unearned runs for the Seraphs, and a 13-9 loss for the Sharks.

“We just made too made too many mistakes that we just have to cut down on,” second baseman Dylan Ross said after the game.

The Sharks started the game off strong. In the second inning and down by only one run, five hits led to four runs, giving MHS a 4-1 lead.

But in the top of the third, with two outs, the bases loaded and Bronson Bard pitching, Malibu started to unravel.

St. Bonaventure scored two runs, tying the game at 4, after a bad throw to third base by the Sharks. Then a wild pitch by Bard and a missed throw to first put the Seraphs up 6-4.

Bard threw another wild pitch that went right past catcher Trevor Simonian, who couldn’t find the ball for a few seconds, and a Seraphs runner scored. St. Bonaventure scored two more runs for a 9-4 lead before the Sharks got their third out.

Coach Ari Jacobs was visibly upset after the game while speaking about the team’s struggles this season.

“As a coach, watching us break down on things that we constantly prepare for in practice is very frustrating,” Jacobs said after taking a few seconds to carefully choose his words.

Before Malibu’s next at bat, Jacobs had a short meeting with team, which seemed to spark its offense. Simonian drilled a shot to deep left field and drove in two runs.

Going into the fourth inning, the Sharks were down 9-8 and looking to make a comeback. But St. Bonaventure ran off four runs before Malibu knew what hit them, and sealed the victory before one out was recorded at the top of the fourth.

Despite the losing streak, some players on the team are finding silver linings to their struggles. Bard said the team has grown more mature.

“Less people are throwing their helmets, less people are throwing their gloves” Bard said. “We’re just doing a better job on the small things.”

Jacobs singled out Ross as a bright spot so far this season, and said his second baseman is helping the other members of the team to fight through adversity.

“He is always someone that no matter what happens on the field, when Dylan Ross is on your team, it’s fun to watch him play,” Jacobs said. “He is such a battler and such a hard worker. He’s one of those guys that his adversity is being tested and he is just a champion.”

Ross, who is the captain of the team, is looking for improved play from the rest of the players.

“We’ve got a lot to work on as a team,” Ross said. “We work year-round, so we can play much better than this.”

The Sharks will play two games this week versus the Santa Clara Saints starting on Wednesday, April 22.